Leaving a review here as I have found others so helpful on this site. We just spent 3 days in the beautiful Gressoney Valley for a first trip here, having been to Cervinia, Courmayeur and Pila previously in the Aosta Valley. It has to be said, that this valley feels like a truly old landscape and the various traditional villages that line the winding road to Gressoney at times seem hardly touched since they first formed, a unique and spellbinding atmosphere once you begin your ascent from Pont Saint Martin.

We have however, surely been here during one of the worst seasons ever, with snow cover very limited across the mountains, it hasn't snowed in over a month, with freezing levels well over 2k most days, resulting in large swathes of brown grass sadly evident across the whole range in the valley, but but the Monterosa resort have done an excellent job in keeping the pistes very skiable, we enjoyed a few days of unbroken sunshine and very enjoyable cruising around the pistes, which were excellent in the mornings, but certainly getting a little cut up and slushy in the pinch point runs by early afternoon. Obviously we didn't get a taste of the famous freeriding here, and we had pretty much seen it all in terms of skiable area in the three days, but you can see the potential for when there is powder to be enjoyed.

We stayed in a beautiful old farm residance outside Gressoney Saint Jean - by far the most comprehensive and atmospheric of the upper villages in the valley, with La Trinite less so, and Stafal really more of a ski station set up with some lodgings and a few bars and cafes to service the lift crowds.

The vibe is definitely traditional, alpine, and pleasantly low key - it feels very authentic, very Italian (very few UK or Irish accents to be heard) - and if slightly lacking in the usual ski town hubbub, it is worth mentioning how extremely friendly people were both on and off the mountain, the cafes and bars seemed to be predominately family businesses, and there was a refreshing lack of 'cool' on the mountain, all in it is a refreshing change from the bigger name resorts, but definitely not the place to come to if you are looking for a raging apres scene. Without the powder to tempt people off the pistes, definitely the slightly older lift infrastructure was shown up slightly - and there is a lack of options off lifts from time to time, but, in any (hopefully) decent year (if we ever have decent years again) this is mitigated.

We also came with our 3.5yo little girl for her first snow trip - having spent 3 days in Aosta / Pila where everything was very central and very easy, before coming up here - here certainly things are more spread out, with a 25 min drive from our lodgings to Stafal to get to the main lifts. But, there is a great baby snow park in Gressoney Saint Jean across from Weismatten, and we took advantage of the Kids Club (Fiocco Neve) in Stafal to let her in for two mornings which she loved - and meant we could ski together, again, people could not have been nicer to her, there were tonnes of kids on the pistes, and in general it is a very very family friendly atmosphere across the villages, if requiring a little logistical planning due to the spread out nature of the villages, you definitely need a car to make the best of it.

All in, a great experience, I would love to see it with proper snow, both in terms of the landscape and the skiing, but a very enjoyable few days in a very traditional and enjoyably low key atmosphere.
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Monterosa = Italian food + Low key + Some seriously technical skiing.

A lot of the alpine resorts have gone in two main directions. Very upmarket, or mass tourism. This is why Monterosa is such an incredible place. It still retains its character as a small mountain town (Editor note: Monterosa Ski includes several towns & villages) but the lifts and general infrastructure are more than adequate. (not the newest but outside of the xmas holidays, have much more capacity than is really needed to ensure no more than 5mins of queuing)

It is a challenging resort by most standards and its both steep and can have some narrow runs. It is hard to learn here as an adult because it is quite steep and also the people that come are generally very competent. It might be daunting for a first timer or beginners in general. The snow is pretty consistent and the off-piste is great and very accessible. One key thing to mention is that there are lots of places without trees so you can see where you are going and this is quite unique (except maybe Verbier). However, there are also some rock fields and you need to be sure you know where you want to go first.

If you can ski this place is frankly pretty hard to beat in Europe. I put value of 3/5 but this is such a hard question to answer. Compared to Verbier it is about a third off for all major considerations (lift pass, hotels restaurants or ski rental) however it is more expensive than some of the "low frills" resorts. There are price points for all budgets but of course I am trying to make a general estimate.

Italian food in my view, frankly makes Switzerland and Austria seem like prison food. ( I know that's bit unfair!) It really is so good and even at a random cafe you will get excellent coffee and delicious hot food and almost any restaurant you'll have full on gastronomic experiences.. (prove me wrong!)

I've been coming to Champoluc since I first learnt to ski. I highly recommend Mascognaz, Breithorn (Ed note: both are hotels in Champoluc) and also some of the incredible Airbnb's on and around the mountain.
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Even after a few to Monterosa, I still find new things to discovery. 

Staying in a different valley & accommodation every time opens up a whole new world on each visit. Last winter we were in a small village below Gressoney called Lillianes in a BnB. No snow lower in the valley but gorgeous surroundings & wonderful locals.

The skiing in the resort was great with no one around as usual. We had heard the ski hill got smashed over the preceding weekend, but it was as quiet as a grave during the week. The off piste had become a bit cruddy in parts but we still found fresh snow & great turns around Indrren.

An exuberant apres session in Stafal had me mumbling into my negroni.......

Will always visit Monte Rosa on any ski trip to Europe.
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We returned to Monterosa in 2018, skiing the off piste between Stafal and Alagna. It hadn't snowed for a week, but we found wind blown fresh without too much issue. Monterosa has such wonderful off piste opportunities, but it is starting to attract an increased following of freeriders which is pushing skiers further and further afield. That said, during our visit, crowds were non existent.

If visiting Monterosa for the first time, the off piste and backcountry is best learnt with a guide.

A new chairlift in Alagna improves high altitude beginner terrain from Cimelegna to Salati which was previously only served by the mid station of the often full Salati cable car. Sadly we never saw it running. Not sure why.

Had a good sampling of the apres in Stafal and found it fun, but finished too early. Bombardinos, aperol spritzers and negroni were delicious.

We stayed a few nights in a sensational BnB in Lillianes, down valley from Gressoney. Bar Le Petit Coin was fabulous for apres and snacks.

Monterosa is awesome for its diversity. From high altitude glaciers, tree skiing, long piste trails, good apres and mythical beasts! Then off the mountain there are gorgeous villages and fascinating geological features. There aren't too many places in the world that one can ski powder in the morning and then stand on a Roman bridge built in the year 25 (yep ...... that's 25!) in the town of Pont St Martin.

We are looking forward to returning next time to explore the terrain above 4000m!
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The Name says it all, endless lines both off the lifts and hike to areas. We arrived on a Sunday and the place was pretty crowded but all of mid week was quiet enough to hear the diesel in my hire car slowly change viscosity from normal to a thick sludge.

While free riding is what it is known for there is plenty there for all standards of snow rider (didn't see a terrain park but that's not needed). And of course the scenery is magnificent
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Monterosa Ski could well be Italy's (and maybe even Europe's) best all round ski area. There are so many reasons why.

Located in the shadows of the highest mountains in western Europe, the high altitude means reliable snowfall and regular deep powder.

The ski area is uncrowded and has real and interesting villages at its base (Alagna, Champoluc & Gressoney), The huge linked lift system, beautiful on piste, vast off piste and some wonderful tree skiing make this a skiers paradise. The ski touring opportunities are huge, with 2000m vertical descents the norm.

Some old lifts let it down in key places, but when you see how cheap the lift tickets are, all is forgiven. 

The mountain huts are all wonderful. Food and drink are top notch.

Ski Monterosa before everyone realises what they are missing out on.
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